Agriculture holds untold opportunities for youth

Heavy travelling in the region of the Kei River during the festive season made me think of the importance of making agriculture more fashionable and glamorous, especially for those leaving school or seeking a better life.

With last year’s matric results out, now is the time to convince many young matriculants of the opportunities in the farming sector. More money needs to be invested in training young black farmers if the country is serious about transforming this sector and dealing with high unemployment.

This duty does not lie with the government alone — it is the responsibility of all who have a voice in society, including the financial services sector, which has the funding key to making the fertile land more productive. 

To the doubting Thomases, let me tell you I have seen it with my own eyes — there is so much unused green land in the countryside that is in need of serious farmers, especially those from previously disadvantaged communities.

If you do not believe me, drive through the Kei and see how many hectares of green land, especially in rural areas, lie fallow. I would not be shocked if this is not restricted to this part of SA.

During the festive season, I spoke to two elderly farmers, one an Afrikaner and the other Xhosa. The number of cows and sheep they say they sold in this festive season and the cash they generated convinced me that it is possible to lead a wealthy life just through farming. For those young people aspiring to buy Porsches and Ferraris and own multimillion-rand houses, I bet these can be bought through farming and not just through state tenders from the local municipality. If you are unconvinced, spend some time with established farmers to see what I am talking about. READ MORE

Source: www.bdlive.co.za
BY PHAKAMISA NDZAMELA